From the serious to the frivolous and points in between, Texas comes to the small screen in some old and new ways this summer, and in one case in particular, invites you to abandon your place on the couch and walk down one of TV’s many memory lanes. Look what’s coming up:
For foodies: Austin’s Maria Corbalan, owner of Maria’s Taco Xpress, is featured in an upcoming episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. The series features Guy Fieri traveling off the beaten path in search of fast food that is not mass-produced. The episode featuring the South Lamar taqueria airs May 19, at 9pm on the Food Network.
Get out your power Stetsons and Western-cut shirts: The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum will open a new exhibit called “Dallas: Power & Passion on Primetime TV” later this month. The prime-time soap was a hit when it premiered in 1978, running for 13 years and appearing in syndication around the world. The exhibit will feature interactive stations, props, costume pieces, and memorabilia from cast members including Larry Hagman, who starred as the conniving and charming J.R. Ewing, the CEO of Ewing Oil and all-around gadabout. According to early reports, some of the more intriguing items on view include clips from the show in four different languages, as well as “Southfork Pilgrims,” a short film about visitors from around the world who travel to the Parker, Texas, ranch featured in the opening sequence of Dallas in order to relive their favorite moments from the series. “Dallas: Power & Passion on Primetime TV” opens at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum on May 31, and remains on view through Sept. 14.
ABC seems to be taking to the idea that the TV landscape is changing, and to remain competitive, they have decided to make some changes, as well. The news division is broadening how and where they get their news content, while trying to dig into the favored 18- to 25-year-old demographic by opening news bureaus at select universities. The School of Journalism at the University of Texas at Austin is one of five programs tapped to house a multimedia bureau, which will allow students to report on stories in their respective regions for Good Morning America, World News With Charles Gibson, Nightline, MTVU, and other broadcast and digital platforms. The UT-Austin bureau will open in September 2008, supervised by broadcast journalism lecturer Kate Dawson. According to UT press materials, the 14-year broadcast news veteran worked at Fox News Channel, WCBS-TV, and ABC News Radio prior to forming her own production company, Dawson Films. Dawson joined UT’s broadcast journalism faculty in 2006. The other universities selected for the pilot program include journalism schools at Arizona State University, Syracuse University, the University of Florida, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Later this summer: There are Austin connections to two upcoming films airing on PBS’ Independent Lens and POV series. The first is Writ Writer, which premiered at this past year’s South by Southwest Film Festival. It tells the story of prisoner-rights advocate Fred Arispe Cruz, who challenged and helped reform the Texas penal system in the 1960s. Local writer Dagoberto Gilb (The Flowers) wrote the narration based on Cruz’s original diaries. Writ Writer airs in June.
The Last Conquistador, by John Valadez and UT alumna Cristina Ibarra, will air on POV in July. The film follows what happened when the El Paso City Council commissioned sculptor John Houser to create a piece honoring Spanish conquistador Juan de Oñate; there was a particular uproar among the large Native American community, who still talk about Oñate’s gruesome methods of exterminating natives. “TV Eye” will take a closer look at Writ Writer and The Last Conquistador closer to their airdates.
As always, stay tuned.
E-mail Belinda Acosta at tveye@austinchronicle.com.
This article appears in May 16 • 2008.